Wheel for oil-well derricks.



L. G. MOORE.

WHEEL FOR OIL WELL DBRRIGKS.

APPLLGATION FILED APRA, 1913.

Patented Oct. 13, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

3 INVENTOR- a if WITNESSES W% M WW L. G. MOORE.

WHEEL FOB- OIL WELL DERRICKS.

APPLICATION FILED'APBA, 191s.

Patented Oct. 13, 1914,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

. INVENTOR fig; M 44 WITNESSES Fig.

- which may LEE C. MOORE, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

WHEEL FOR OIL-WELL DERBICKS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed Apri14, 1913. Serial No. 758,895.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that dent of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny andState of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement inWheels for Oil-Well Derricks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to wheel construction, and more particularly, tobull-wheels for drilling derricks orrigs.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved construction ofwheel which can be readily and cheaply manufactured, which is mademainly of standard sizes and shapes of ordinary stock material, whichcan be shipped in knock-down state and erected in the field, and whichcan, therefore, be readily transported long distances over rough oruneven ground.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wheel which can beutilized in connection with a shaft formed of a metal tube, and whereinmeans is provided for se-, curely fastening the wheel to the shaftwithout liability of the wheel becoming loose thereon.

Further objects of the invention are in partobvious and in part willappear more in detail hereinafter.

In the drawings Figure 1 represents a side elevation, partly in section,showing awheel embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is an end elevation,partly in section, of the same; Fig. '3 is a sectional view on the l1ne33,

44, Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 5 is a sectionon the line 5-5, Fig. 4; and Fig. 6 is a detail view of a modification.

The bull-wheel shown in the drawings comprises a shaft 1, which may besolid, as in Fig. 6, but which preferably is formed, as shown in Fig. 2,of a standard wrought iron or steel pipe or tube, the opposite ends ofbe provided with suitable trunnions (not shown), upon which the shaft isjournaled. Near the opposite ends of the shaft are located a tug wheel2, and a brake band wheel 3. Both of these wheels are of substantiallythe same construction and are secured in like manner to the shaft 1, theonly difference between said wheels being in the details of constructionof the rim. The tug wheel 2 comprises a hub 4, spokes 5 and a rim 6. Thehub 4 is preferably formed of cast metal, such as iron or steel, whilethe I, LEE C. MOORE, a resi- 2; Fig. 4 is a detail section on the linespokes 5 are rods or bars of wrought metal. Preferably, the spokes aresecured at their inner ends to the hub 4 by castmg the hub around thespokes, although this is not essential. Specifically, the several spokes5 are laid in the mold in the proper positions," their inner ends'6prqecting into the mold cavity. The hub 4 is then cast in the ordinarymanner, as a complete ring, thereby firmly securing all of the spokes tothe rim. After the hub is cast, it is cut or sliced in a plane throughits axis, at the points 7. The end portions of the hub are'thicker thanthe intermediate portion thereof, as indicated in Fig. 5, and areprovided with pockets or notches 8, forming oppositely disposed flatfaces 9 on the two hub members. Before slicing or dividing the hub,holes 10 are bored through the hub between the oppositely disposed faces9, said holes being provided to receive clamping bolts 11 for securingthe hub about the shaft.

The shaft 1, if tubular, is provided at the place where the wheel 2 isto be secured thereto with a longitudinal slot or opening 12. If theshaft is solid it is provided with a groove 12. One member-of the hub &is provided on its inner surface with a longitudinal slot or key-way 13adapted to receive a key 14, which 1n cross section is in the shape of ablunt wedge. One or more set screws '15 are threaded through said hubmember from the outside opposite the keyway 13, two such screws beingshown. In assembling the wheel and securing the hub about the shaft, thekey 1& is first placed in position with its wedge-shaped side projectinginto the longitudinal slot, groove or opening in the shaft. The hubmembers are then placed about the shaft, and over the,

key 14 with the latter in position in its keyway 13. Bolts 10 are thentightened up to securely clamp the hub about the shaft. Set screws 15are thenscrewed in to force the key 14 into the slot, groove or openingin the shaft, thereby preventing the possibility of the hub turning uponthe shaft.

Patented Oct. 13, 1914.

The outer ends of the spokes 5 support the 1 Q rim 6. This in general isthe ordinary form of rim, consisting of a plurality of common curvedwood cants 16 placed side by side and arranged to break joints, asillustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. These cants may be purchased in the openmarket in stock sizes and have inner and outer edges curved in the arcsof circles of the desired radii. Certain referred to.

of these cants, in the case of the tug wheel 2, are'provided on theirouter edges w th circumferential grooves 17 toreceive a driving rope orcable, (not shown) the grooves bemg shaped in accordance with theparticular kind of rope or cable being used. The outer ends of spokes 5are threaded to receive nuts 18. Said nuts are first threaded up so thatthey are all at substantially the same distance from the axis of theshaft 1. Upon the nuts 18 of each pair of oppositely disposed spokes 5are laid U-shaped bindlng members 20, formed of strips or bands ofrolled metal provided with apertures to receive the spoke ends. Theouter ends or arms 22 of said binding members 20 are bent outwardly, sothat said members are of U-shape with the arms embracing the rim,thereby enabling the cants to be clamped between the arms of saidmembers. U on the ends of spokes 5 are located circum erential bands orstrips 19, formed of ordinary fiat rolled metal bars punched at regularintervals with holes through which the ends of the spokes project. Thesestrips 19 will preferably be punched or bored by means of a templet sothat the holes will be spaced the proper distance apart, and can eitherbe bent to the proper curve in the field or before being shipped. Spokes5 are sufiiciently flexible so that if the holes in strips 19 are notexactly spaced, or if the spokes are improperly placed they can besprung slightly to enable the strips to be placed over the ends of thespokes. Strips 19 may extend entirely around the circumference of therim, but preferably are made of a length substantially half thecircumference, with the ends at two spokes on Preferably, spokes 5 arearranged in the same manner as the spokes of a bicycle wheel, that is,there are two series of spokes, as shown in Fig. 1, spaced lengthwise ofthe axis of the shaft. The inner ends of said spokes are farther apartthan the outer ends,

so that the spokes are inclined, longitudr' nally of the wheel axis, toa transverse plane. As shown in Fig. 1, the angles of inclination of thespokes are such that they are in line with the grooves 17 in the cants16, where the power is applied to the wheel. The wheel is accordinglyconsiderably stronger. Preferably, four strips or hands 19 are used, twostrips for each of the series of spokes just After the strips or bands19 are laid in-position over the binding members 20 on the ends of thespokes, 21 are threaded upon the ends of the spokes to secure the bandsthereto. The wood cants 16 are then laid in position side by sidebetween the outer projecting arms 22 of the outer nuts U-shaped bindingstraps 20, said cants being first cut out on their inner surfaces toprovide pockets or recesses 21 to receive nuts 21. Said cants are boredwith transverse apertures, preferably formed with a templet, so thatwhen the cants are placed in position, the bores in the several cantsare in line with each other. Securing bolts 23 are then passed throughthe alined apertures in the cants and through the arms 22 of the bindingstraps 20. Nuts 24: are then threaded upon said bolts to tightly clampthe cants together, the arms 22 of the binding straps 2O yielding orbendin inwardly to effect this clamping action. A ter the rim has beenassembled in the manner described, side cover plates or members 25, alsoformed of ordinary stock wood cants, are secured to the side faces ofthe rim. Said members are cut away to form pockets or recesses 26 toreceive the side arms 22 of the members 20, the nut 24 and the head ofthe bolt 23. Preferably, the recesses 26 extend clear through the sideplates so the nuts 24 can be readily tightened up when desired. Saidside members are secured by nails or screws driven through said membersinto the inner cant members 16.

The brake band wheel 3 is of the same construction as wheel 2, exceptthat the cant members 16 are not provided with grooves 17, therebyproviding an outer cylindrical surface of wood to receive the brakeband. Both tug and brake band wheels can, if desired, be provided withsuitable handles for turning the wheel by hand. These handles mayconsist of ordinary wooden pins driven into apertures bored through theside cover plates} 25 and the inner cants 16.

The wheel described, has the following advantages: In the first place,it can be shipped in knock-down condition, that is, with the two halvesof the hub and the spokes carried thereby separated from each other. Therim is formed of a number of standard curved cants, which can be shippedseparately from each other, or can even be purchased'in the field. Theother members of the wheel consist of the shaft, the circumferentialbands or strips 19, the binding members 20 and the several nuts andbolts. It is, therefore, possible to readily convey or transport thewheel long distances over rough and broken ground, such as is usuallyencountered in oil fields. The Wheel in general is of the sameconstruction as the ordinary wheels now in use. Ithas the samewoodenrim, and the sidefaces of said rim are of wood without sharpangles or projecting bolt heads or nuts so that the fiber rope used isnot damaged when it slips off from the side face of the rim. Moreover,the parts of the entire wheel are securely joined together so that thewheel is practically a single integral piece. The key constructiondescribed, together with the split arrangement of the hub, securelyfastens the hub to the shaft. The spokes are in efiect integral with thehub. The sep rate cants forming the rim are arranged to break joints andare secured to each other by the transverse bolts 23. They are supportedon the" be secured to a shaft, spokes secured at their prising segmentslying side .15

inner'ends to said hub, a built-up rim, comby side, U-shaped bindingmembers secured to said spokes and embracing said rim, andcircumferential bands-rigidly connected to said spokes and supportingsaid rim.

2. A wheel comprlsmg a hub arranged to be secured to a shaft, spokessecured at their inner ends to said hub, a built-up rim comprisingsegments lying side by side, U-shaped binding members secured to saidspokes and embraclng said rim, and circmn'ferential bands lying betweensaid U-shaped binding members and said rim and supporting the latter.

'3. A wheel comprising a'hub arrangedto be secured to a shaft, aplurality of sets of spokes secured at their inner ends to said hub, abuilt-up rim comprising segments ly-' ing side by side, U-shaped bindingmembers within said rim and secured to said spokes and having side armsembracing said rim, and a plurality of circumferential bands forsupporting said rim, each band being rigidly secured to the outer endsof the spokes of one of said sets.

4. A wheel comprising a hub arranged to be secured to a shaft, spokessecured at their inner ends to said hub, circumferential bands on theouter ends of said spokes, a built-u rim supported by said bands, andcircum erentially spaced U -shaped binding members lyingwithin saidbands and having their side arms connectedto said rim.

5. A wheel comprising a hub arranged to be secured to a shaft, twoseries'of oppositelg disposed: spokes secured at their inner en to saidhub, each pair of spokes converging toward their. outer ends, l J-shapedbinding members each secured to a pair of oppositely disposed spokes,and a rim located between V the arms of said binding members.

' 6. A wheel comprising a hub arranged to be secured to a shaft, twoseries of oppositely disposed spokes secured at their inner ends to saidhub,- a-plurality of binding members one secured to each pair ofoppositely disposed spokes, a rim located between the arms of saidbinding members, and bolts passing through the arms of said members andthrough said rim.

7 A wheel comprising a hub arranged to be secured to a shaft, two seriesof oppositely disposed spokes secured at their inner ends to said hub, aplurality of binding members, one secured to each pair of'oppositelydisposed spokes, a rim located between the arms of said binding members,bolts passin' through the arms of said members and through said rim, andside plates secured to said rim and having pockets to receive theprojecting ends of'said bolts.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand. a LEE 0. MOORE.Witnesses:

WILLIAM B. WHARTON,

WILLIAM P. LARKIN.

